rather than 是一个十分常用的固定短语，表达“取舍关系”。前面的内容为“取”，rather than后面的内容为“舍”。

既然rather than是一个“准并列连词”，那么，只要是前面有相应的并列成分，就可以由它连接起来。一般而言，它后面可以跟名词、代词、形容词、副词、介词短语、现在分词、过去分词、甚至从句，但这些必须和前面的成分是并列同等的。例如：

rather than + 从句的例子：

We should help him rather than he should help us.

I should thank you rather than you thank me.

我应当谢你而不是你谢我。

I will help you rather than you have any trouble.

我会帮助你，不会让你遇到任何麻烦。

I would go to see my uncle right now rather than when I have time some day.

其他情况：

I like football rather than basketball. (名词)

You should go there rather than I.（代词）

These shoes are comfortable rather than good-looking.（形容词）

He writes fast rather than carefully.（副词）

She did it by herself rather than with the help of others.（介词短语）

She was smiling rather than laughing.（现在分词）

He was rewarded rather than punished.（过去分词）

上述例句中，rather than之后实际上是省略了与前面相对应的成分。

当rather than 表示“宁可不”的意思时，其后的动词一律用原形，不管前面的谓语是什么时态。例如：

We insisted on starting the work at once rather than leave it for the next day.

He sold the vegetables at half price rather than allow them to go bad.

The hero would die rather than give in.

I prefer to walk there rather than take a bus.

Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.

此外，rather than经常和would和had 连用，构成would rather … than (宁愿…而不) 和 had rather … than (宁愿…而不)句型。例如:

The hero would rather die than give in.

I had rather wait here than go away.